American Sable Rabbit

History of the Ameican Sable Rabbit

The American Sable Rabbit was first noted in early 20th century, when it was developed by Otto Brock in California. The Sable coloration is caused by a gene called “chinchilla light” . This gene is incompletely dominant over the two below it . When a rabbit has two copies of cchl, it looks so dark brown as to be almost black. This color is called seal. The non-showable colors are useful to a breeding program. Some breeders have crossed Californians into their American Sables to improve type and add some genetic diversity. As is the case with any crossbreeding project, you will find some people for and others strongly against this practice.

Health

An American Sable’s diet is like any other rabbits in that it should consist mainly of hay (70 percent), while the rest should be a healthy mix of pellets, vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens. Hay is the most important part of your rabbit’s diet. Pellets should only make up a small amount of your rabbit’s diet. They are high calorie and low fibre which leads to obesity and overgrown teeth. Fresh vegetables keep your rabbit’s intestines well hydrated, which helps with overall digestion. Rabbits have a sweet tooth and would probably love to eat a lot of fruit. However, because of the high sugar content, fruits should be fed only as treats. In order for your rabbit’s personality to flourish, American Sables need to have plenty of time outside of their enclosures.